In my experience the driver's side should indeed be aimed slightly lower than the passenger side. The reason for this is so that it will not be as distracting to oncoming traffic. Dimmer, however, is another matter. I've not heard of a driver's side that is intended to be dimmer than the passenger side. Maybe it's something new in your generation's design? I'm no expert so wait for further word from those more familiar with your vehicle.

Yours is not a rare car... try to keep your eyes out for same-year/same-headlight examples and try to compare with regard to brightness. The fact that you didn't notice anything prior to the bumper mishap indicates it may be more than just a coincidence. For the brightness, have you checked the voltage at each DRL to see if there is a difference? I can understand how the accident could have caused damage to the wiring harness. As for alignment, hopefully someone here knows the alignment specs. On my vehicle, the driver's side should be aimed about 1" lower at 25'. I'm assuming that the alignment is done on the low beam and that the DRLs are fixed relative to them. Once again, I don't know this so wait for someone with first hand knowledge.

 

it is true that the driver side headlight is aimed lower so it won't blind oncoming traffic. But being dimmer? i don't know about that one.

I should add that its the headlight that is adjusted to aim low.. not sure if they lower the DRL light too. I personally don't think so. Though when you adjust the headlight, does the whole headlight assembly move or just the light bulb?

 

I also find it odd that the DRL is dimmer than the other side. The advisor even compared it side by side with another xse. And he said it's the same on the other xse. I didnt see them do the comparison though.

Haven't tried adjusting the headlights yet..

 

I would have the headlight wiring checked to ensure a part of the harness is not pinched or nicked from the accident. High resistance limits current flow and that could cause the light to be dim.

 

Not sure how I would check it. I took a peak under the hood to match if the wiring is the same on the other side. Nothing seems out of the ordinary but at the same time I don't have much experience on this.

 

I dont see any reason to make one dimmer than the other, but as far as my headlights are, the brightness are symmetrical. The driver side beam is however tilted slightly vs the passengers headlight beam so it doesnt glare into oncoming trafficc. Bugs me that it is slightly slanted though, and bugs me i cannot throw hids in. Not a fan of leds

 

If the lower aim bothers you a lot, you can adjust your left headlight to be even with the right side. There are adjusters to adjust the beam. Just park it facing a closed garage door or wall so you can level it out.

 

I should also add that the DRL does dim when the low beams are turned on. So maybe the wiring is turned around? Does it look more bright when you turn on the low beams?

 

You're right. I've tried seeing the difference between turning on the low beans with the drl on and then comparing it to just having the DRL on. It's about the same brightness. I'm not a mechanic or anything so trying to see if the wiring is turned around is gonna be difficult. Any ideas how to check? Or would it be that the new entire headlights installed is just dimmer than the stock 2018 headlights?